Chapter 22
Grateful for the large walk-in shower, I spin around under the shower head without having to worry about bumping into Javier as he lathers his body up.
“How you feeling?” he asks without looking at me.
“Fine.”
He barks out a laugh. “Ouch. I was hoping for incredible, mindblown, changed forever.”
I chuckle as I turn to rinse out my hair. “Oh, well, sure. All those things, too.”
Javier snorts, and then I feel him at my back, his face burrowing into my neck as his hands slide around my stomach.
I break out into goosebumps, even under warm water.
“But really, I was asking about this,” he says, moving his hand to the crease between my ass cheeks. “Is this okay? Or do I need to kiss it better?”
My body shivers. “I…I’m okay.”
He spins me around until my back hits the shower wall. “And this,” he says, taking his finger and tapping my temple.
My eyes fall to his lips where water drops from his hair and lands on them. I want to wipe the wetness away with my tongue. I want our bodies to collide and smack against each other in this shower. I want—
Javier snickers, cutting off my thoughts. “Oh, I think you are changed forever.”
I try to remain nonchalant, because the truth is, I don’t know what this means.
I always knew I was gay, so that’s not a revelation.
That I had sex with a man known for violence and worse, couldn’t possibly be where my future leads.
This was a thrill. This was doing what I’ve been craving for years.
And for him? Just another romp in the sack, probably.
There’s no use getting excited about this when I don’t know what it is.
“I really enjoyed myself,” I tell him, reaching out to touch his hip. “A lot.” I give him a smirk. “Mentally, I’m okay,” I say with a shrug. “Maybe the guilt will hit later. I don’t know. Right now, I’m happy.”
His fingers graze the front of my thigh. “But?”
“I’m not going to fool myself into thinking this is anything serious.” I laugh, and it comes out a little more derisive than I intended. “It can’t be. This was a one and done.”
His brows furrow slightly as he studies me. “Not sure why you’d think that.”
“Come on,” I say with a chuckle. “I’m not someone you want to be with all the time. We come from different worlds. I could go back to work soon, and then what?”
He steps away. “I see. You’re projecting.
You say I don’t wanna be with someone like you, when really, you don’t wanna be with someone like me.
I get it, Carlo. You could’ve just said that.
It’s not like I thought we’d be anything more than fuck buddies anyway.
You’re too boring, but you have a nice ass, and I was hoping to find out how soft your mouth is. ”
“Javier.”
He forces me out of my space so he can rinse off. “No, really. I’m all good. I did what I wanted to do anyway.”
His phone starts ringing from the bedroom and he quickly steps out of the shower, yanking a towel off a nearby hook.
“Javier,” I say again.
I sigh, realizing I probably should’ve kept my mouth closed. Why couldn’t we have messed around a couple more times? I’m sure it would’ve slowly faded into nothing anyway.
Taking my time, I finish cleaning up before I step out and grab a towel. I get dried off and then put lotion on before heading into my room where I look for my clothes.
Javier isn’t in the house, but his things are still on my floor, so I guess he took his call outside.
When I find the remote, I turn on the TV that’s hoisted up on my wall opposite my bed, and start to get dressed.
The news is already on, talking about the weather forecast, and just as I pull my shirt over my head, it cuts to two people behind the news station desk.
“We have some news out of South Bay Correctional Institute. Antonio Caruso, suspected hitman for the Mancini Crime Family, was found dead in his cell last week. They are currently calling this a suicide.”
I slowly lower myself to the mattress and stare at the TV as the newscasters begin talking about something else.
A myriad of thoughts bounce around in my head as I try to snap myself out of this daze.
I quickly get up and go to my bedroom window which faces the front yard.
I spot Javier leaning against his car that’s parked in front of the house next door.
He’s only wearing his pants, but he’s no longer on the phone.
He appears to be zoned out with his gaze frozen down the street.
I glance over to where he’s looking to see if I can spot anything unusual, but the street is quiet.
My phone blares from the living room, making me jolt up straight. I speed walk down the hall until I find it next to my forgotten plate of food. Gazing down at the screen, I see a number I don’t recognize.
“Hello?”
“Kid, I’m sending someone to get you. He’s about an hour away.”
“Johnny? What’s going on?”
“Pack a small bag.”
“Johnny, what the hell is happening? Where’s my dad?”
“Listen. This guy will be there in a little while.”
“What the…tell me what’s happening? Am I in danger?”
There’s silence on the phone, and then it goes dead.
The door opens and Javier strolls in. Considering how things took a turn in the shower, I doubt he’ll be willing to stay much longer, which right now, is a good thing. I don’t want to explain to him that some man is coming to pick me up.
“I didn’t mean to be rude earlier. I really did have a good time,” I say, walking back to the bedroom with the hope that he’ll follow and grab his things.
“I know you did,” he says. “Your body doesn’t lie as easily as your mouth does.”
I chuckle nervously. “Uhh, yeah.”
Javier moves without a care, taking his time to pick up his shirt and slide it over his head. He grabs his socks and shoes and takes them to the chair where he casually puts them on.
I find myself fidgeting with my phone, checking the time, and wondering when he’ll leave, and if I’ll have enough time to pack before my ride gets here.
Javier notices. “What’s going on with you?”
“Nothing,” I say, but even I could hear the slight pitch in my tone.
“Sure.”
He walks over to his discarded guns and shoulder holster, picks them up and puts them back on.
“As we reported earlier, Antonio Caruso was found dead in his cell, an apparent suicide. However, reports are coming in that he was in protective custody, and the cameras outside his cell weren’t working.
His attorney is questioning the ruling of a suicide, claiming Mr. Caruso was not at all suicidal.
We’ll bring you more news as we know it. ”
The broadcaster’s voice is replaced by an insurance commercial, but Javier and I slowly make eye contact from across the room.
Something in his expression has my curiosity spiking. Then a light bulb goes off. “Did you…”
He shifts, putting his hands in his pockets. “Did I…what?”
“I didn't realize you were in the same prison,” I say, gesturing toward the TV.
“And?”
“Did you kill him?”
I whisper the words like it’ll make a difference.
“Why do you think I was there in the first place?”
“You said you got into a fight.”
“I did what needed to be done to get put in there. I have a job to do, Carlo.”
My brain starts short circuiting. Theories and questions begin forming. If he killed Antonio, he works for a family. He has to.
“Who do you work for?”
He watches me for a few seconds before he speaks. “I have a confession.”
I roll my eyes. “Now’s not the time.”
His lips quirk slightly. “I’m here for you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m your ride.”
My brows furrow and my head tilts to the side as I take a step back. “No. What—what are you talking about? I don’t have a ride,” I say.
He makes a tsk tsk sound with his tongue. “Lie after lie after lie.”
“I’m not lying.”
“You’re telling me you didn’t get a call when I was outside? Before you answer, I heard the ring. You got the damn volume up as loud as possible.”
“You know Johnny?” I ask.
He nods once. “Johnny Sabatino? Yes, I know him. Now let’s pack that bag. I think we have a few things to go over.”